Combined audible signal and visual gauge



June 16, 1964 F. P. SCULLY 3,137,168

COMBINED AUDIBLE SIGNAL AND VISUAL GAUGE Filed Aug. 13, 1962 [awe-22hr.- 173 08243) 215M225; by 01412? 4 p 2/ fli'ibfifggs this type of equipment.

United States Patent 3,137,168 COMBINED AUDIBLE SIGNAL AND VISUAL GAUGE Frank P. Scully, Belmont, Mass, assignor to Scully Signail Company, Melrose, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Aug. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 216,375 6 Claims. (Cl. 73-317) This invention relates to signaling and gauging devices for use in filling closed tanks. The invention may be used with any type of closed tank, but its most common use will be in connection with the conventional 275- gallon tank used in storing fuel oil for use with oil burners.

As is well understood in the fuel oil delivery field, it is desirable that such tanks be equipped with two types of indicating devices. One such :device is in the form of a whistle which sounds during filling until the rising liquid level has reached a predetermined point, at which time the sound ceases. Cessation of the sound indicates to the tank truck operator that the fuel supply should then be cut ofi. "Secondly, it is desirable that each tank be provided with a visual gauge so that on inspection one will be advised as to the amount of oil in the tank. ,The patent to Mathey, 2,617,303, shows an earlier versionof Over the years there has been a constant search for simpler and cheaper structures, and the present invention, constituting an improvement over prior devices, is designed to meet current needs.

Practically all of the 275-gallon fuel oil tanks found in 7 homes and commercial buildings have a fill pipe running from the exterior of the building up to the fill opening in the top of the tank and a ventpipe running from the vent opening in the tank to an exterior position on the building, usually in the proximity of the fill pipe. Thus any signaling sound produced in the vent pipe can readily be heard by the operator attending the delivery valve at the fill pipe.

The present invention may be utilized in new installations or it may be inserted in the vent line of old installations. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the invention may also be used with tanks designed to vent directly to the atmosphere without the use of an extended vent pipe.

7 These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section taken on the line 11 of FIG; 2 showing the invention installed in the vent opening of a closed tank. Some of the elements are broken away in part to bring them within the confines of the drawing;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3is a view generally similar to FIG. 1 showing a modified construction; and FIG. '4 is a further modification showing a form the invention may take in which the gauge rod extends beyond the top of the tank and is directly visible.

Referring first to the construction shown in FIG. 1, a tank 2 of any dimension or configuration has a vent opening 4 located within the boss 6. Into the vent opening is screwed a tubular housing 8 threaded at It to make proper engagement with corresponding threads 12 in the vent opening. The upper end of tubular housing 8 is in series with a vent pipe (not shown), which in the ordinary case will lead to the exterior of the building. Located at the lower end of tube 8 is a conventional button-type whistle 14- having upper and lower whistle apertures 16 and 18. From the lower side of the whistle may depend an intrusion tube 20 of any selected length 3,137,168 Patented June 16, 1964 "ice and having its lower end 22 terminating at the level at which it is desired that a signal be given to indicate that the liquid in the tank has risen to that point.

As the tank is being filled, with the liquid level still below the lower end of tube 22, the displaced gas flows upwardly through tube 22 and through the whistle a'pertures 16 and 18 to produce a whistling sound capable of being heard by the oil deliveryman. When the liquid level reaches the lower end 22 of tube 20, the whistling sound will cease so that the operator is advised to shut off the fluid supply.

Relief means by-passin'g the whistle 14 is provided through the side of tube 8 to prevent the development of excess pressure in the tank during filling or thereafter should the operator fail to shut off the liquid supply promptly after it has reached the lower end of the intrusion tube 20. One form of relief means is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but it will be understood that any other equivalent means could be used.. Two oppositely disposed openings 24 and 26 are provided in the sides of tube .8 with vertical ribs 28 and 30 dividing the openings. Extending from one rib to the other is a transverse bar 32 enlarged at the center to provide an eye 34. Two valves 36 and 38 shaped to fit the interior of tube 8 normally close the ports 24 and 26. The valves are slidably mounted on the bar 32. Compression springs 46 and 42 of proper strength continually urge the valves to closed position. Whenthe pressure in the tank reaches a predetermined degree, the valves will move inwardly (as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2) to permit increased venting from the tank. Opening of the relief means while the liquid level is still below tube 22 does not aifect operation of whistle 14, which functions so long as filling continues regardle'ssof the pressure provided there is no abnormality in the venting system.

One type of visual gauge is shown in FIG. 1. construction, a support rod 44 secured to housing 8 depends about halfway into the tank. Pivoted thereto at 45 is float rod 46, having on its end a float 48. Gauge rod 50 is pivoted to float rod 46 at 52. The gauge rod extends upwardly through intrusion tube 20, throughthe whistle openings 16 and 18, and through the eye 34 of bar 32, to terminate in an indicator 54 which is adjacent a liquid tight transparent window 56 in the side of housing 8. As the level of the liquid in the tank varies, so will the position of visible indicator 54.

The diameter of gauge rod 50 is so small in relation to the internal diameter of intrusion tube Ztl'and the whistle openings 16 and 18 that the whistling sound produced byldisplaced gas flowing upwardly through the whistle is virtually unimpaired. By having the gauge rod '50 extend through the whistle in the manner shown, the construction of the entire unit is materially simplified over constructions of the prior art. Furthermore, this cor'nbir'redv signaling and gauging unit may be positioned in a small diameter vent opening without impairing the normal required venting capacity of the vent pipe needed to meet the usual safety requirements.

A modification of the gauging construction shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The broken-away midportion of the housing, if included, would disclose-the threads 10 and 12 and the relief means 36, 38, etc. the same as in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, the support rod 58 carries on its lower end a beveled gear 60 suitably aflixed to float rod 62, having thereon at its outer end float 64.-

Gear 60 cooperates with a corresponding beveled gear 66 secured to the lower end of gauge rod 68, which is caused by the gear action torotate about its vertical axis as the float 64 moves up and down with the liquid level. On the upper end of the rotating gauge rod 68 is a horizontal arm 70 having a magnet 72 on its end which Inthis causes a magnetically atractable element 74 to travel around a channel 76 mounted on the exterior of housing 8. Channel 76 may include a transparent window 77 suitably marked so that the position of the ball will give an indication of the amount of fluid in the tank.

Another form of the invention is shown in FIG. 4. Here the housing 8 is of short length. The whistle I4 is located in the housing so as to be substantially flush with the top of the tank. The construction may or may not include an intrusion tube 20, depending on the level at which the signal is to be given. In the construction shownin FIG. 4, the audible signal will continue until the tank is substantially full. Of course, it will be understood that the whistle could be put at other selected levels by extending the housing 8 down into the tank to a greater or less extent and a by-pass means added above the whistle as in FIG. 1. Through this simple construction, the level at which the audible signal is given may be controlled.

The gauging means shown in FIG. 4 is also of simple construction. Extending through whistle apertures 16 and 18 is a gauge rod 78 having on its lower end a float 80. This gauge rod is guided by the whistle openings 16 and 18 and an eye 82 formed in a crosswise extending wire 84 which has its ends anchored in the wall of housing 8. Rod 78 is prevented from falling out of the unit by an enlargement 86 on the upper end of the rod. A stop 88 may be used to prevent float 80 from closing the whistle before the liquid has reached it.

The construction shown in FIG. 4' would be used normally only in those situations Where it was safe for the gas of the tank to vent directly to the immediate vicinity of the tank. With this construction, an indication is given to the operator when the tank has been filled to a level determined by the vertical position of the whistle or by the bottom end of the intrusion tube, if one is used. Also, visual observation of the position of the upper end of exposed gauge rod 78 will indicate the level of the liquid in the tank at any time.

It is my intention to cover all changes and modifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. The combination of visible and audible signaling means for use in filling tanks, said combination comprising a whistle having aligned apertures therethrough, means for attaching said whistle in series with an opening through said tank whereby rising liquid level will cause flow of gas through said apertures to actuate said whistle, a gauge rod extending through said apertures from the interior of said tank to a position above the top of the tank, and a float associated with said gauge rod to move the rod in accord with the liquid level.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, the means for attaching said whistle in series with the tank opening comprising a tubular housing depending into said tank from said opening and a by-pass into said housing below said tank top to provide a second passage for escape of gas from said tank into said opening.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1, the means o attaching aid histle n Series with the tank open- 'ing comprising a tubular housing depending into said tank from said opening, an aperture through said housing below said tank top and above said whistle, and a valve normally closing said aperture but operable to open when the pressure in the tank at the valve exceeds a predetermined degree.

4. The combination of visible and audible signalling means for use in filling tanks, said combination comprising a tubular housing adapted to be secured in the vent opening of a tank, a Whistle in said housing, said whistle having aligned openings therethrough whereby gas displaced during the filling of said tank will flow outwardly through said whistle openings to produce an audible signal, a support rod affixed to said housing and depending below said whistle, a float arm movably mounted on said depending support rod, a float on said float arm, a gauge rod associated with said float arm and extending upwardly through the said whistle apertures to to a position above the top of said tank, and means associated with the said gauge rod for indicating the level of liquid in the tank in accord with the position of said float arm.

5. The combination of visible and audible signaling means for use in filling tanks, said combination comprising a tubular housing adapted to be secured in the vent opening of a tank, a whistle in said housing, said whistle having aligned openings therethrough whereby gas displaced during the filling of said tank will flow outwardly through said whistle openings to produce an audible signal, a support rod affixed to said housing and depending below said whistle, a float arm pivotally mounted on said depending support rod, a float on said float arm, a gauge rod associated with said float arm and extending upwardly through the said whistle apertures to a position above the top of said tank, and means associated with the said gauge rod for indicating the level of liquid in the tank in accord with the position of said float arm, and a by-pass into said housing below said tank top to provide a second passage for escape of gas from said tank into said opening. I

6. The combination of visible and audible signaling means for use in filling tanks, said combination comprising a tubular housing adapted to be secured inthe vent opening'of a tank, a whistle in said housing, said whistle having aligned openings therethrough whereby gas displaced during the filling of said tank will flow outwardly through said whistle openings to produce an audible signal, a support rod afiixed to said housing and depending below said whistle, a float arm pivotally mounted on said depending support rod, a float on said float arm, a gauge rod associated with said float arm and extending upwardly through the said whistle apertures to a position above the top of said tank, means associated with the said gauge rod for indicating the level of liquid in the tank in accord with the position of said float arm, an aperture in said housing above said whistle and below said tank top, and a valve normally closing said aperture, said valve operable to open when the pressure in said tank at the valve exceeds a predetermined degree whereby a by-pass around said whistle will be provided. 

1. THE COMBINATION OF VISIBLE AND AUDIBLE SIGNALING MEANS FOR USE IN FILLING TANKS, SAID COMBINATION COMPRISING A WHISTLE HAVING ALIGNED APERTURES THERETHROUGH, MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID WHISTLE IN SERIES WITH AN OPENING THROUGH SAID TANK WHEREBY RISING LIQUID LEVEL WILL CAUSE FLOW OF GAS THROUGH SAID APERTURES TO ACTUATE SAID WHISTLE, A GAUGE ROD EXTENDING THROUGH SAID APERTURES FROM THE INTERIOR OF SAID TANK TO A POSITION ABOVE THE 